“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” Psalm 63:6 We seldom put much thought into the sleeping habits of Bible people. It just doesn’t seem that important. However, people back then had to sleep just as we do today. But their […]
Daily Meditations
Beatitudes (Blessed) . . .
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 Jesus had been teaching in the northern area of Palestine near the Sea of Galilee. One day he gathered his large group of disciples near him on a mountaintop. He was about to deliver a lengthy sermon. […]
“Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.” Matthew 13:48 Since we carry our goods in plastic bags, totes, and boxes, it takes some imagination to realize how important baskets were in Bible times. Baskets needed to be woven by an experienced […]
“You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.” Judges 13:3 What do Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Hannah, and Elizabeth have in common? They all wanted to have children but were unable. We say that they were all barren or […]
Banquet . . .
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.” Matthew 22:2 People in Bible times loved banquets and feasts much like we do today. They celebrated birthdays, marriages, and even the end of sheep shearing. The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary provides these details: […]
Banner . . .
“I will beckon to the nations, I will lift up my banner to the peoples.” Isaiah 49:22 We see flags and banners everywhere. We fly the American flag as a sign of loyalty to our country. In many school gymnasiums, we see banners hanging from the ceiling recognizing past victories. […]
Balm . . .
“They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm.” 2 Chronicles 28:15 There is an old spiritual that has these words: There is a balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead, To heal the sin-sick soul. If […]
Atonement . . .
“On this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all of your sins.” Leviticus 16:30 In fall each year people of the Jewish faith celebrate a holiday called Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. These celebrations began […]
Athletics . . .
“Anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:5 Who would expect to see sports in the Bible? There are several references to athletics, especially in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, people likely participated in […]
Astrologers . . .
“No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked.” Daniel 2:27 (ESV) We enjoy gazing up at the stars on a clear night, especially through a telescope. Some people can even identify the different constellations. People have studied the stars […]
